- 


Issued Bi-monthly 


Series 4. No. 1 


BULLETIN 

College of Engineering 

®®e£it Virginia Untoersttp 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 

in West Virginia ■I 

GEORGE E. TAYLOR, C. E. 



% 




JULY, 1918. 

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA 
PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY 


Entered ns second class matter March 30, 1916, at the postoffice at Morgantown, 
West Virginia, under the Act of August 2A, 1912. 







BULLETIN 

College of Engineering 

3SSlegt Virginia Umbensttp 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 

in West Virginia 

GEORGE E. TAYLOR, C. E. 


Thesis Presented in Candidacy for the Professional Degree of 

Civil Engineer 



JULY, 1918. 

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA 
PUB'EIshed by the university 




TNsso 

r 3 


WitsA Virginia ®ntber£ttp 

MORGANTOWN 

ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 7, 1867 


THE STATE BOARD OF CONTROL 

403 CAPITOL STREET 
CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA 


E. B. STEPHENSON, President_Charleston, W. Va. 

J. M. WILLIAMSON, Treasurer_Charleston, W. Va. 

JAMES S. LAKIN_Charleston, W. Va. 


The State Board of Control has the direction of the financial and 
business affairs of the state educational institutions. 


THE STATE BOARD OF REGENTS 

STATE CAPITOL BUILDING 
CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA 

M. P. SHAWKEY, State Superintendent of Schools, 

President -Charleston, W. Va. 

GEORGE S. LAIDLEY_Charleston, W. Va. 

NOAH G. KEIM_Elkins, W. Va. 

EARL W. OGLEBAY_Wheeling, W. Va. 

FRANK N. SYCAFOOSE_Webster Springs, W. Va. 

The State Board of Regents has charge of all matters of a purely 
scholastic nature concerning the state educational institutions. 


THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 

Administrative Officers and Heads of Departments 

FRANK B. TROTTER, President. 

CLEMENT ROSS JONES, Dean. 

FREDERICK LINCOLN EMORY, Department of Mechanics and 
Applied Mathematics. 

RUSSELL LOVE MORRIS, Department of Railway and Highway 
Engineering. 

ROLAND PARKER DAVIS, Department of Structural and Hydraulic 
Engineering. 

JOHN BEHNY GRUMBEIN, Department of Steam and Experimental 
Engineering. 

ALEXANDER HARDIE FORMAN, Department of Electrical Engi¬ 
neering. 

ALFRED COPELAND CALLEN, Department of Mining Engineering. 

LESLIE DAVID HAYES, Department of Machine Design and Con¬ 
struction. 

n. of 0* 

aug 12 1919 















Introduction 


Notwithstanding the value of natural gas as an ideal fuel for domestic pur¬ 
poses, and the limited supply, which according to estimates by authorities, will 
be exhausted in less than twenty-five years at present rates of production, no 

natural resource has been and is being so recklessly wasted by the American 
people. 

The conservation of this valuable fuel for the most necessary use by the 
greatest number of our citizens is a matter of first importance in the future 
development of West Virginia. Every precaution should be taken in seeing that 
it is utilized with minimum waste and maximum efficiency. 

Large quantities of natural gas have been wasted by faulty methods of 
production and distribution and inefficient use. Each day brings us closer to 
the final exhaustion of this valuable natural resource. Conservation methods 
should be applied now wherever possible to prolong the useful life of natural 
gas. * 




The unique and important position of this State in the Natural Gas Indus¬ 
try is shown by the following data: 

40% of all the natural gas produced in the United States is produced in 
West Virginia. 

13.5% of all the natural gas consumed in the United States is consumed in 
West Virginia. 

21% of all the productive natural gas wells in the United States are in 
West Virginia. 

30% of all the natural gas land acreage in the United States is in West 
Virginia. 

The magnitude of the Natural Gas Industry in this State is evidenced by 
the following data: 

43% of the State’s population is dependent on natural gas for heating, 
cooking or lighting service. 

$127,000,000.00 approximately is invested in plant. 

$10,000,000.00 at least is invested in service connections, house piping and 
gas-using appliances. 

$50,000,000.00 represents the annual value of the present production. 

The gas business is easily the second industry of importance in West 

Virginia. 


In concluding this introductory 
to my friends for their co-operation 
information furished by them. 


statement I desire to extend hearty thanks 
with me in this study and for the valuable 

GEO. E. TAYLOR. 


Charleston, W. Va„ May Tenth, 1918. 



CONTENTS 


Introduction. 

Growth of the Natural Gas Industry. 

The Carbon Black Business. 

The Relation of the Coal and Gas Industries. 

The Relation of the Oil and Gas Industries. 

The Natural Gas Situation in Surrounding States. 

The Exportation of Natural Gas to Other States. 

The Importation of Natural Gas into West Virginia. 

Natural Gas Legislation. 

The Rapid Industrial Growth. 

Rules and Regulations of the Public Service Commission. 

Statistics of Present Production. 

Natural Gas for Industrial Use. 

Gas Shortages. 

Refinements in the Natural Gas Business. 

Use of Substitutes for Natural Gas by Industrial Consumers. 

Increase in Rates. 

Unusual Conditions caused by the War. 

Agencies Interested in the Conservation of the Natural Gas Supply. 
Outlook for the Future. 



The Conservation of Natural Gas in 

West Virginia 


GROWTH OF THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY 

A history of the growth and development of the natural gas industry in 
West \iiginia given in any detail would not be proper in a paper of this kind. 
Some of the most interesting items, however, should not be overlooked. 

Geoige Washington as early as 1775, discovered the “burning spring" nine 
miles above Charleston in the Great Kanawha Valley which he described as 
“a bituminous spring of so inflammable a nature as to burst forth as freely as 
spirits and is nearly as difficult to extinguish." 

The first use of natural gas for manufacturing purposes in the United 
States was made by Mr. William Tompkins in 1841, who in boring a salt well 
only a few hundred feet from the above-mentioned burning spring struck a 
large flow of gas which he piped to his salt works and used instead of coal in 
boiling down the brines. 

Drilling of wells at an increasing rate continued until at the present time 
over one-fifth of all the productive gas wells in the United States are in West 
Virginia, scattered over 3,000,000 acres of gas territory. The location of the 
principal fields is well shown by a map prepared by the West Virginia Geologi¬ 
cal Survey entitled, “Map of West Virginia showing Coal, Oil, Gas, Iron Ore 
and Limestone Areas.” This State has played an important part in the develop¬ 
ing of methods and appliances for deep well drilling, and has given to the 
world one of its most valuable men—a geologist of wide reputation—in Dr. I. C. 
White of Morgantown. 

The accompanying chart No. 1 shows the annual value of natural gas pro¬ 
duction in West Virginia from 1889, the number of wells since 1897 and also 
the quantity produced since 1906, taken from the annual Reports on Mineral 
Statistics of the United States Geological Survey, to the year 1916 inclusive. 
Figures used for the year 1917 are taken from statistics compiled by the writer. 

The trend of development is southwestward across the State and into Ken¬ 
tucky. The wells of the northern part of the State are becoming smaller and 
the life shorter as they are being developed in the borders of the different 
fields. It is believed the principal future developments of importance will be 
made in the southern part of the State, where the gas areas have not been so 
fully and completely tested. 

Since the year 1908, West Virginia has ranked first among all the states 
of the Union in the production of this matchless fuel. Since the year 1908 
the annual production has been gradually increasing until, according to the 
most recent compilation of the State’s production made by the Public Service 
Commission from reports filed therewith for the year ending December 31, 
1917, it has reached the enormous figure of 305,264,926,000 cubic feet. It is 
believed that this State has practically reached her maximum production after 
which there will be a gradual decline. 

A very full, complete and interesting description of the natural gas develop¬ 
ments is contained in an article written by Dr. I. C. White, State Geologist, 
entitled, “History of Petroleum and Natural Gas Developments and Statistics 
of Production," in the West Virginia Legislative Handbook and Manual and 
Official Register, 1917, edited by John T. Harris. 



West Virginia University 



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Conservation of Natural Gas 


r- 

i 


The different publications, county reports and maps prepared by the West 
Virginia Geological Survey contain full and complete information on all matters 
of interest in the development of natural gas productions up to this time—a 
most valuable storehouse of information on one of the State’s most important 
natural resources. 

The publication, “Mineral Resources of the United States,” contains statis¬ 
tics of natural gas since the year 1906. 


THE CARBON BLACK BUSINESS. 

The manufacture of carbon black from natural gas has become an ex¬ 
tensive industry through the gas fields of West Virginia. 

The first carbon black ever made from natural gas was made by Haworth 
and Lamb at a place near New Cumberland in the northern part of the State. 
It is of interest to note that the first plates used for collecting the black or soot 
were of soapstone. 

The business is necessarily a migratory one. The price of the carbon black 
has always been kept down by the necessity of competing with cheap gas and 
as soon as gas has ceased to be very cheap in a given locality, the manufacture 
has become unremunerative and the factory has been removed. 

Invariably the factories have been located in gas fields remote from thickly 
settled districts or cities. It has become more and more the practice to obtain 
supplies either from low pressure gas wells which are unavailable for use of 
the large gas companies, or to collect the gas over a wide area from oil wells 
where the gas is wasting in the open air and would otherwise be a total loss, 
and in such cases it is to that extent a measure of conservation. The business 
is now becoming well started in other states, namely Oklahoma, Louisiana, 
Texas, Montana, etc., although it is still largely confined to West Virginia. 

With the perfection of methods now under development by which the oil 
in a given pool can be removed without the loss of the gas from other sands, 
much of the gas now being used for carbon black will be saved for a higher 
form of utilization. 

The accompanying chart No. 2 shows graphically the yearly production, 
and value of the natural gas used for the manufacture of carbon black in West 
Virginia and the cost of the gas in cents per thousand cubic feet. 

A very interesting account of the carbon black industry is to be found in 
the county reports of West Virginia Geological Survey for the counties of Dodd¬ 
ridge and Harrison, written by Godfrey L. Cabot of Boston, Mass. A still 
further discussion of this subject is included under the chapter on “Refine¬ 
ments in the Natural Gas Business.” 


8 


West Virginia University 
































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































YIAfllsHWm 


||^ i vV 'IFl-VV JVJ - 

- SHOWING — ■*• 

<§®ail iPKisxBxyxgTrQ®!/^ 
WEST - vi rqiNIA 

FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS 

1863 to 18SZ 

AS GIVEN BY THE 

(S./S. Geological Startsey 

-AND- 

rOR THE FISCAL TEARS 

J&9Z to <7une 50 th, 181? 

FROM REPORTS OF THE 

f'festyZrgi n iafttzn ingH epar tmesi t 

Tferzr^y 

C«/£r or D£/*aktmc nr. of Af/nes. 


ANALYSES OF COMMERCIAL COAL BEDS OF WEST VA. 

TAKEN FROM REPORTS OF WEST VIRGINIA 6E0L06ICAL SURVEY 



SEAM 

MOIS. 

V.M. 

F,Q, 

^SH, 

SUL. 

PHOS. 

B.T.U. 

WASHINGTON. _ 

WAYNES BUR 5_~_ 

1.0* 

0-43 

34.57 

34.40 

45.76 

47.67 

18.65 

17.50 

2.76 

3.70 

.007 

.021 

11.685 

12.008 

SEWICKLEY____ _ 

1.15 

30.45 

51.97 

55.41 

8.43 

3.48 

.005 

14.187 

REDSTONE _ _ 

0.67 

36.09 

7-03 

2 43 

.009 

I3.&3I 

PITTSBURG___ 

LITTLE PITTSBURG__ 

It} 

1.10 
0.78 
3. Kb 

37.03 

55.68 

6-62 

1.65 

.014 

14.079 

30.76 

50.22 

7-45 

y 32 

•043 

12.660 

ELK LICK_ 

37-40 

46.46 

15.04 

2.49 

.006 

>13.360 

BAKERSTOWN___ 

4-1.20 

52.36 

5.61 

3.15 

.005 

£ 3 S 

MAHONING 

3100 

53.12 

5.62 

2.56 

.007 

UPPER FREEPORT_ 

0.79 

29.45 

61.91 

7-85 

1.51 

.032 

14176 

LOWER FREEPORT_ 

1.15 

24.01 

59.41 

15.43 

3.52 

.013 

13.619 

UPPER KITTANNING_ 

0.66 

29.70 

50.33 

10.03 

2.37 

.053 

13.300 

MIDDLE KITTANNIN6- Nt 5-BLOCK _ _ 

0.68 

19.37 

71.20 

8.7 5 

I.76 

.031 

13.416 

LOWER KITTANNING_ 

0.95 

28.05 

62.16 

0.04 

1.33 

.063; 

13.976 

STOCKTON - LEWISTON_ 

1 . SI 

33/41 

30.01 

6.O7 

7.76 

3.23 

0.86 

.002 

13.501 

COAL BURG,_ 

LITTLE COAL BURG_ 

1.11 

33.90 

57.37 

0.80 

.004 

13.951 

2.00 

40.71 

54.06 

0.06 

.004 

BUFFALO CREEK_ 

•2.67 

1.09 

35.99 

56.25 

5.09 

075 

.005 


WINI FREOE___ 

36.59 

50.42 

3.90 

0.63 

-003 

13.732 

14.2.50 

CHILTON___ 

1.91 

36.21 

56.04 

5.04 

a 75 

.006 

HERNSH AW_ 

0.67 

30.94 

52.79 

30.43 

7.60 

3.13 

.005 

13.700 

DINGESS_ 

1.30 

4001 

7-26 

1.43 

.009 

13.241 

WILLIAM SON __ 

CEDAR GROVE_ 

1.62. 

0.06 

38.53 
36.3 1 

53.13 
JT7 .85 

m 

1.82 

0.61 

: 8 ii 

14.000 

14.661 

ALMA-- _ - 

1.2.9 

36.53 

53 8o 

5.36 

1.32 

.005 

(4 120 

CAMPBELLS CREEK— NS-2-GAS- 

1.15 

29.49 

63 60 

6.36 

LSI 

.007 

.006 

14203 

rOWtLLTON_ 

1.10 

32.26 

60.77 

3.07 

0.97 

14 339 

EAGLE _ ___ 

0.01 

31.01 

63.09 

60.85 

5.09 

0.66 

.Ol 1 

14.709 

LITTLE EAGLE_.__ 

0.25 

29.45 

9.4§ 

0.57 

.003 

13.700 

CEDAR__I_ 

LOWER WAR EAGLE_ 

1.40 

2892 

61.70 

7.98 

3.60 

1.14 

.OIO 

13.965 

0.34- 

3521 

60.85 

0-79 

.003 

SEWELL__ 

WELCH_» _•__.T. 

8:?* 

19-79 

17-72 

75 91 
74 07 

352 

7-47 

0.08 

0.74 

:o 05 
.020 

15.072 

14547 

BECKLEY - WAR CREEK_ 

0.01 

14.03 

79.22 

5.14 

0.75 

.003 

14831 

FIRE CREEK_ 

0.64 

16.66 

77 06 

5.44 

0.65 

<056 

.007 

.006 

14.746 

POCAHONTAS. NS _G>_'_ 

POCAHONTAS _H \ _ A-__ 

&!? 

19.66 

15-67 

7654 

7845 

3.10 

4.91 

o.s* 

0.66 

15.190 
15.123 

POCAHONTAS., N«- 3 

1.2.1 

45.66 

70-01 

•El 2. 

0.69 

.006 

15-027 


&2Llfc7.774 

L-B 9 . 3 B 3 .- 4 «;o 


PLATE 3 


r>/e fffjfZOS 


Total Coal F*ro disced from JaruLarz/1 S63 lo^Ttzne 30^131? s =lll^ t 6H t 6S9 ShOTt Torts . 

rros C/erA-H/frets O/V * G* 0 / 0 ?^*, CAar/es/** >Y Kr (NOTE TOTAL AVAILABLE COAL IN WE6T VIRGINIA ~ I60,0&0,000.06 


OOP NET TONS - ESTIMATED) sJoa^h-m 



























































































































































































. 




















' 







































9 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 

THE RELATION OF THE COAL INDUSTRY. 

• ^° al . business is at the Present time the first industry of importance 

«q ^J ir f nia - F ° r the fiSCal year endin S June 30, 1917, this State produced 
89,353,450 short tons of coal, being nearly 16.5% of all the coal produced in the 

nited States for the year 1917. The rapid growth in coal production is well 

shown by chart No. 3 prepared for E. A. Henry, Chief of the Department of 
Mines. 

The total coal available in West Virginia is estimated at 160,080,000,000 
short tons, which at the present rate of production would last for about 1800 
years. The equipment of the coal companies of the State is such as to warrant 
a production of 140,000,000 short tons annually. Even at this rate of production 
the coal available would last for over a thousand years. The total coal pro¬ 
duced to June 30, 1917, is only a little over a billion short tons. On this basis 
West Virginia’s coal supply has scarcely been touched, yet the present produc¬ 
tion of coal is equivalent in heating power to over seventy-seven times the pro¬ 
duction of natural gas. 

The dominating idea in the minds of West Virginia statesmen is to con¬ 
serve within the State such natural resources as will bring wealth and power 
to the State. It is a fact that only about 8% of the coal produced is used within 
the State. The natural gas supply is already becoming inadequate in the north¬ 
ern part of West Virginia, and in a few years more it will not be equal to the 
rapidly increasing demands made on it by users in the southern part of the 
State. The coal fields have scarcely been touched. After the natural gas has 
become exhausted, this State will then have to fall back to coal for its source 
of heat and power. This must necessarily be a gradual change. Artificial gas 
will in part be substituted for our present uses of natural gas. Signs of the 
times can be seen in the present erection by the Monongahela Valley Traction 
Company, at Fairmont, West Virginia, of a Lynn producer gas plant or what is 
better known as a by-product-producer plant. The initial plant will consist of 
seven units consuming about 75 tons of coal daily and producing the equivalent 
of 1,500,000 cubic feet of natural gas in addition to the valuable by-products. 

The war needs for coal, together with lack of transportation and cars, have 
been such as to cause a severe shortage in the coal supply during the past 
winter. This shortage has been felt principally in the East. It has been critical 
even in the face of the fact that the entire supply of the United States was in 
the hands of and under the control of the National Fuel Administration, which, 
through increased efficiency and in handling, has saved to the country millions 
of tons. The increased demands for coal to fill the war needs was somewhere 
between 10 and 20% of the total production of the United States. 

The influence of this demand is shown by the fact that the increase in 
volume of natural gas distriuted to industrial consumers was 26% in the year 
1916 over that of 1915. 

While it is sincerely believed that the country should now pool all the 
natural resources to the best advantage for the successful prosecution of the 
war, plans should now be laid to conserve our natural gas, after the period 
of the war, for the best use of the public. 


10 


West Virginia University 


THE RELATION OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRIES. 

The production of oil and natural gas in any State is so closely related that 
it is hardly possible to think of one of them without thinking of the other. Gas 
and oil are nearly always both found in the same field and often in the same 
well. It is almost certain that the largest and richest pools of oil in this State 
have been discovered. Chart No. 4 shows graphically the annual production of 
oil from the year 1880 to the year 1917 inclusive taken from the statistics of the 
United States Geological Survey. The production shown for the year 1917 is an 
estimate based on the preliminary estiiiiates of John D. Northrop of the United 
States Geological Survey for the Appalachian Field. 

The salient feature of the industry for the year 1917 was the record price 
reached and maintained for crude oil at the wells. The output for the year 
1916 was less than 1915 by 533,614 barrels or 6%. The reason for this decrease 
lies in the smaller capacities of the new wells drilled in proven territory and in 
the failure of wildcat operations to discover new pools to offset the steady de¬ 
cline in production in the older districts. 

A study of Chart No. 4 showing oil production, reveals an almost steady de¬ 
cline in production since the year 1912, although every effort is being made by 
the oil producers to maintain the production as high as possible. Improved 
methods of recovery have recently been used to obtain oil from wells that a few 
years ago would have been abandoned. New pools may be discovered from 
time to time to compensate the decrease in production, but it is not believed that 
the maximum production for the year of 1900 (16,195,675 barrels), will ever be 
surpassed. 

The enormous demand for oil in the United States necessitated a net draft 
of 21,000,000 barrels on oil in storage. The surface reserve at the end of 1917 
is estimated at 153,000,000 barrels. 

The principal drain upon the oil industry is for fuel oil. There is no short¬ 
age of gasoline for use in this country at the present time. As a matter of 
fact, the stocks of gasoline are increasing. Unfortunately gasoline cannot be 
stored in large quantities for lack of storage facilities which chnnot now be 
built. All the gasoline is now being forwarded for which ships are available. 
The need of immediate importance is that of fuel oil. The consumption of this 
commodity is much greater than the consumption of any other of the various 
products obtained from crude petroleum. 

The oil industry feels that it can and will supply all the increased demand 
for oil products for the war provided sufficient tank steamers can be obtained. 

The natural gas-gasoline industry has come to the front wonderfully in the 
past two years because of the effort to avoid a gasoline famine or a shortage 
of fuel oil. The output of gasoline obtained from natural gas in 1916 in West 
Virginia is placed at 18,765,056 gallons—a gain of 73% over 1915. This produc¬ 
tion ranks West Virginia second among the States in which this industry has 
been developed. It is estimated that for the year 1916 about 35% of the State’s 
total production of natural gas was treated for gasoline. The combined daily 
capacity of the gasoline plants in West Virginia was increased 187% during the 
year 1916. 

The development of this industry is unquestionably to the advantage of 
the State, as it is in every way a means of true conservation. 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 


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West Virginia University 


1 9 

J /V 


THE GAS SITUATION IN SURROUNDING STATES. 

The gas situation in the surrounding states obtaining gas from the Appa¬ 
lachian gas fields is much the same as in West Virginia with the following 
principal exceptions: the unit price is higher and the supply less dependable. 

West Virginia is situated in the very heart of the Appalachian field and is 
able to produce more gas than the present rapidly growing demand requires. The 
surrounding states are not able to produce enough gas to take care of their 
consumption so the deficiency is made up from the rich West Virginia Fields. 
The gas transported out of the State through long-distance transmission lines 
and the use of powerful compressing stations must be paid for at a much higher 
price than the same could be sold for nearer the source of production. Com¬ 
pressor stations valued by the Board of Public Works at nearly $5,000,000.00 
are used in West Virginia in transporting the West Virginia gas to other States. 
Not only is the waning production and the increasing demand of other States 
together with the high prices and shortages of coal made good from the fields 
of West Virginia, but during the past two years our cities, towns, industrial 
users and even our domestic consumers have been made to suffer. 

An inspection of Chart No. 5 shows that the situation is yearly becoming 
worse and worse. Unless a radical change is made in the next few years West 
Virginia will soon find that her production of natural gas does not equal the 
demand—the same conditions which now exist in the surrounding States will 
come home to us. A very much higher rate must then be paid for a less reliable 
supply and there will be no neighboring states ready to offset our waning pro¬ 
duction and give us the necessary relief. 

The following table taken from the reports of the United States Geological 
Survey shows the production and consumption in the surrounding states for the 
year 1916: 


State 

Produced 

Consumed 

Percent 


(cubic feet) 

(cubic feet) 


Pennsylvania 

129,925,150,000 

201,460,893,000 

64.5 

Ohio 

69,888,070,000 

169,480,011,000 

41.2 

New York 

8,594,187,000 

20,594,123.000 

41 7 

Kentucky 

2,106,542,000 

9,887,956,000 

21.3 

Indiana 

1,715,499,000 

5,021,364,000 

34.2 

Total 

212,229,448,000 

406,444,347,000 

52.2 

Difference 194,214,899,000 cubic feet. 



West Virginia 

299,318,907,000 

105,104,008,000 

284.7 


Transported out of West Virginia 194,214,899,000 cubic feet. 

The last column in the above table shows the percentage relation of pro¬ 
duction to consumption. 

The following table shows the production, consumption and their percentage 
relation for the years 1914 and 1915: 









The Conservation of Natural Gas 



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14 


West Virginia University 


For the Year 1914. 

(cubic feet) (cubic feet) 

State Produced Consumed Percent 

Pennsylvania _110,745,374,000 164,834,542,000 67.2 

Ohio _ 68,270,174,000 138,388,914,000 49.3 

New York_ 8,935,187,000 18,401,830,000 48.6 

Kentucky_ 1,421,818,000 7,225,626.000 19.7 

Indiana_ 2,579,675,000 4,443,244,000 58.0 

Total _191,952,226,000 333,294,156.000 57.6 

West Virginia_236,489,175,000 95,147,247,000 248.5 

For the Year 1915. 

i (cubic feet) (cubic feet) 

State Produced Consumed Percent 

Pennsylvania _113,691,690,000 176,367,235,000 64.5 

Ohio _ 79,510,032,000 146,724,989,000 54.2 

New York_ 7,976.985,000 18,776,496.000 42.5 

Kentucky_ 1,667.423,000 7,746,353,000 21.5 

Indiana_ 2,260,733.000 4,519,244,000 50.0 

Total_205,106,863,000 354,134,317,000 57.9 

West Virginia _244,004,159,000 94,976,705,000 256.9 

The following table shows the unit price for natural gas in West Virginia 
and surrounding States for all quantities consumed within each State in cents 
per thousand cubic feet: 

State 1914 1915 1916 

Pennsylvania _ 17.25 17.06 17.38 

Ohio_ 21.63 21.74 22.06 

New York_ 29.94 30.23 30.26 

Kentucky_ 24.73 25.08 23 58 

Indiana_ 32.02 34.13 34.78 

West Virginia_ 7.71 7.85 8.19 

The following table shows the percentage of gas consumed for industrial 
purposes in the different States for the year 1915 and the unit price for same: 

State Unit Price in Cents Percent 

Per Thousand Cu. Ft. 

Pennsylvania_ 12.86 70.9 

Ohio _ 13.32 47.5 

New York_ 18.95 7.8 

Indiana - 28.07 22.4 

Kentucky - 9.18 36.4 

West Virginia_ 5.41 81.1 

Commenting on the above four tables, it is to be noted that the figures 
showing gas consumed in West Virginia, unit prices, percentages, etc., includes 
gas piped from West Virginia to Maryland amounting to from one and one-half 
to two billion cubic feet per year. 

The percentage of gas used in West Virginia for industrial purposes in the 
year 1916 was 82.1% at an average unit price of 6.05 cents per thousand. Com¬ 
pared with the year 1915, this shows a gain of 12% in volume while the 
corresponding gain in volume for the United States is 26%. 




























The Conservation of Natural Gas 


15 


Fiom the information available it is believed that no special efforts have 
been made in the surrounding States to conserve the natural gas. In times of 
cold weather the gas is either reduced to the industrial users or entirely shut 
off. During the past two winters there have been very severe gas shortages 
in some of the large cities of the neighboring States. The following copies 
of letters received from The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and The Public 
Service Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania tell very clearly the 
situation in those States: 


“Replying to your inquiry of the fourteenth instant. Our efforts all 
winter have been directed to a conservation of the natural gas supply for 
domestic consumers. 

“Practically all of our gas companies have provided by publication in 
their schedules, a classification for the discontinuance of gas service in 
times of extreme weather, to insure the supply for domestic consumption. 
Early in the winter we issued an order directing the companies to enforce 
this provision of their schedule. At Cincinnati the company's classification 
was based upon amount consumed. We have surveyed the company’s 
service there and have provided a different classification for their custom¬ 
ers based upon purpose of consumption. Our Gas Expert is now in Cin¬ 
cinnati to exercise needed judgment in the withdrawal of service from in¬ 
dustrial and other consumers, which the drop by the mercury last night 
seems to require.” 

“THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO.” 

• <. 

“Your communication of February 14, 1918, relative to the conservation 
of natural gas has been referred to this Bureau for attention. 

“Within the last few months a large number of complaints have been 
filed against the natural gas companies and the territory served by these 
companies comprises practically the entire western end of the State. Some 
preliminary hearings have been held but no extended investigation has as 
yet been made. 

“Many of the Companies have discontinued in whole or in part the sale 
of gas for industrial purposes and the cases generally raise very sharply 
the question of the conservation of the supply of natural gas for the best 
use of the public. So far this Commission has not taken any general action 
in the matter.” 

“THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF 

PENNSYLVANIA.” 


THE EXPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS TO OTHER STATES. 

As to this important subject, little can be added to that which is already in 
print. The reader is referred to the Journals of the West Virginia Legislature 
for the year 1917, to the different reports of the Public Service Commission and 
to a Letter to the Governor of West Virginia and a Memorandum in Support of 
Proposed Legislative Regulation of Gas Supply in West Virginia by Messrs. 
Steptoe and Hoffheimer, of Clarksburg, W. Va., for full data on the subject 
and the opinions of some of our most able statesmen. 

Chart No. 5 is prepared to show graphically to what extent this exportation 
effects the total gas production in West Virginia. The solid black represents 
the amounts transported to other States. 


) 


16 


West Virginia University 


The importation of gas is relatively a small matter compared with the ex¬ 
portation to other States. Reports filed with the Public Service Commission 
show that for the year ending December 31, 1917, there was imported into West 
Virginia 4,024,818,000 cubic feet while for the same period there was exported to 
other States 208,280,274,000 cubic feet, or a ratio of about 1 to 52. The importa¬ 
tion is more or less a matter of convenience in handling. The cities receiving 
gas from other States are Point Pleasant, Morgantown and Wheeling. 

NATURAL GAS LEGISLATION—PRESENT LAW. 

The present law, as a result of natural gas legislation by our law making 
bodies, affecting the production, transportation and sale of natural gas, is em¬ 
braced in the different chapters of the Code of 1916 as follows: 

Chapt. 53, Sec. 24, (Acts 1891, Chapt. 113), making companies transporting 
natural gas by means of pipe lines common carriers for the purpose only of 
giving to them the right of eminent domain. 

Chapt. 52, Sec. 11, (Acts 1907, Reg. Sess. Chapt. 43), relating to the crossing 
of railroads, canals, county roads or other pipe lines by lines transporting 
natural gas. 

Chapt. 47, Sec. 28b, (Acts 1905, Chapt. 49), prescribing mandamus as a 
remedy to compel a gas utility company to comply with the terms of its fran¬ 
chise. 

Chapt. 62D, (Acts 1897, Chapt. 58), directing that gas wells shall be cased 
in such a manner as to shut out water; prescribing how abandoned wells shall 
be plugged; prohibiting waste from gas wells, and prescribing penalty for viola¬ 
tion of the act. 

Chapt. 15-0, (Acts 1913, Chapt. 9, 1915, Chapt. 8), creating the Public Service 
Commission, and giving it power to regulate the service and rates of gas com¬ 
panies engaged in the business of supplying gas to consumers. 

ATTEMPTED LEGISLATION, ETC. 

The year 1907, marked the first attempt to prevent, by legislation, the ex¬ 
portation of natural gas without the State. This was in the form of a bill which 
in terms flatly prohibited such exportation. Investigation disclosed that such 
a law would be unconstitutional, and the proposition was never submitted again 
in this form. 

At the regular session, 1915, of the Legislature, House Bill No. 424 was 
before the law making body for consideration. This bill provided that those 
engaged in the business of transporting natural gas by means of pipe lines, 
should for each twenty-five miles, or fractional part thereof, such gas was 
transported, pay an annual privilege tax of one-fifteenth of one percent per 
thousand cubic feet of gas transported within the State, whether for consumers 
within the State or without. 

Pipe lines of less than five miles were exempted, and by making the bill 
applicable alike to lines operated within the State as well to the state line of 


1? 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 

those passing without, its framers sought to make a law which by reason of the 
fact that their lines were longer and the volume of gas much greater, would 
cause the privilege tax to fall more heavily upon those engaged in the inter¬ 
state transportation of gas, and consequently effect a curtailment of such 
transportation. The bill failed to pass at this regular session, and was also 
defeated in each of the extra sessions in the year 1915. 

In the regular session, 1917, debate centered upon House Bill No. 15, which 
would impose a production tax upon natural gas upon its value where sold, or 
in case it should be transported to another State upon its value at the state 
line. The only apparent effect, if any, a law of this character would have upon 
the interstate transportation of gas is that a greater revenue would be exacted 
when gas was measured and the tax paid at the State line by reason of the 
fact that the commodity would be worth more when transported that distance. 
This bill also failed to become a law. 

Governor John J. Cornwell, in an open letter addressed to Hon. O. S. Mc¬ 
Kinney, under date of December 11, 1917, stated that while he was of opinion 
that the legislature of this State could not enact a valid statute which would 
compel gas companies doing business in West Virginia “to supply all the de¬ 
mands of citizens and industries of this State before transporting any of it out 
of the State,” for the reason that such a statute would be held to be such an in¬ 
terference with interstate commerce as would render it unconstitutional, he was 
further of the opinion that the States through their inherent police power 
reserved unto themselves when the federal constitution was framed, could “pro¬ 
tect the physical, moral and material well-being of its citizens, through the 
exercise of that power, even though it incidentally interferes with interstate 
commerce,” and that the State of West Virginia, through the instrumentality of 
the Public Service Commission, could exercise the right of protecting the phy¬ 
sical, moral and material welfare of the people from a shortage of gas by the en¬ 
forcement of orders made by that body “requiring the gas companies to dis¬ 
charge their duties to the people of this State, as public utilities, as far as their 
facilities and the supply of gas would permit.” 

In the same letter, Governor Cornwell expressed himself as being unwilling 
to convene the legislature in special session unless it should be judicially de¬ 
termined that the Public Service Commission was not vested with sufficient 
statutory power to enable it by proper orders to compel the gas companies to 
discharge their duties to the people of this State as outlined in his opinion, in 
which event he stood ready to set the necessary State machinery in motion to 
clothe the Public Service Commission with all the additional power which can 
be delegated it within constitutional limitation. 

Whether or not the Public Service Commission, under the law as now 
written, has the power to compel gas companies, acting as public utilities to 
supply the demands of consumers within the State before they can export gas 
ultra-state, is a debatable question, and one upon which the lawyers who have 
given the subject thought are divided. Hon Fred O. Blue, in a paper read be¬ 
fore the West Virginia Bar Association held at White Sulphur Springs, July, 
1917, said: 

“It is altogether probable that the Public Service Commission, under the 
existing law, has now such authority and jurisdiction.” 


18 


West Virginia University 


There is now pending before the Public Service Commission the case of 
City of Morgantown et al., versus Hope Natural Gas Company et ah, which 
was brought for the purpose of testing the powers of the Commission in this 
respect. 

The question of requiring an adequate supply of gas to West Virginia con¬ 
sumers is a live matter in the minds of the people of this State today. A speedy 
determination of the powers of the Public Service Commission may be looked 
for, and whether by orders of the courts, or by additional legislation, the status 
of gas companies doing business as public utilities in the State and also trans¬ 
porting gas without the State may be soon expected to be fixed. 

THE RAPID INDUSTRIAL GROWTH OF WEST VIRGINIA. 

Anyone who has lived in West Virginia for the past ten years knows that 
this State has had a wonderful industrial growth. This growth has been brought 
about principally because of the rich coal, oil and gas fields. Many factories 
have been induced to locate here because of promise of unlimited supply of 
natural gas for industrial use at low unit prices. There are at least 850 factories 
of different kinds in the State at this time, employing over 67,000 men and 
women. A good record of this annual growth can be obtained from the annual 
reports of the Department of Labor. 

The wonderful growth of the coal, oil and gas business are fairly well 
shown in Charts Nos. 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The newspapers of the State also 
give an excellent detailed history of it. The growth of the State as a whole, 
is well shown by the tax values as set out on Page 475 of the West Virginia 
Legislative Handbook and Manual and Official Register, 1917. 

While the gas supply is of course much better in West Virginia than in any 
of the surrounding States and while this condition of superiority should prevail 
for years, yet the day of unlimited natural gas at low unit prices for industrial 
purposes is practically past. It is confidently believed, however, that a new 
era of industrial development has opened to this State. The eyes of the indus¬ 
trial world have been turned on this section within recent months as a result 
of the Government’s selection of this territory for its armor plant. The manu¬ 
facturer is coming to see what tremendous advantages lies in being close to the 
source of power. 

These advantages are well and fully set out in bulletins published by the 
industrial departments of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, Norfolk and West¬ 
ern Railway and the Baltimore and Ohio Railway. 

There is little question now among the captains of industry that it is good 
business to bring your factory to the fuel and raw materials rather than these 
to your factory. 

The use of cheap gas for industrial purposes as well as for domestic pur¬ 
poses in this State has been of great economic benefit to those industries located 
within the State, and if the gas is conserved this benefit should continue for 
years. It now amounts to many million of dollars annually. Based on the 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 


19 


figures of the unit prices for the different States, the 105,104,008,000 cubic feet 
of gas consumed in West Virginia for the year 1916 would cost as follows: 


West Virginia at 8.19 cents per M_$ 8,610,084.00 

Pennsylvania at 17.38 cents per M_ 18,267,076.59 

Ohio at 22.06 cents per M_ 23,185,944.16 

Kentucky at 23.58 cents per M_, 24i783[525.09 

New York at 30.26 cents per M_ 31,804,472.82 

Indiana at 34.78 cents per M_ 36,555,173.98 

Net saving over any surrounding State_$0,656,992.59 


RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. 

The act establishing the Public Service Commission laid upon the Commis¬ 
sion the responsibility for the prevention of discrimination by all public utilities 
between consumers of the same class and between different classes, not only 
in each locality but in all localities within the State, based upon cost and condi¬ 
tions of service. In addition, it felt the added responsibility to prevent the waste 
of natural gas so far as could be done either legally or by moral suasion. 

Impelled by this responsibility the Commission adopted “Rules and Regula¬ 
tions for the Government of Gas Public Utilities.” It is believed that their 
adoption and enforcement has contributed more to the effective conservation 
of natural gas within our State than any other one agency. 

Of these rules the following deserve particular comment. 

Rule No 5, Method of Measuring Service. The ppractical abolition of flat 
rates accomplished by this rule is probably the greatest single means of conser¬ 
vation effected. Out of 123,820 services composed of domestic and small indus¬ 
trial consumers, on December 31, 1917, there were 121,941 metered services or 
98.5% metered. Of the unmetered services, the larger number were consumers 
receiving free gas as part payment of rental for gas leases. Such consumers are 
notoriously wasteful in their use of gas by improper appliances, open flambeau 
lights, etc.—all being waste due to the fact that no precise limit was placed on 
the amount which would be considered sufficient for each consumer’s use. While 
it is believed that application to the courts would prevent this waste upon proper 
showing in each individual case, the most effective method of conservation 
would be accomplished by the Legislature conferring additional power and re¬ 
sponsibility upon the Commission. 

Rule No. 17, Standard Pressure. The establishment of standard pressure 
within certain limits accomplishes conservation for the reason that any con¬ 
siderable variation in pressure in the burners seriously affects the proportion of 
gas and air and greatly reduces the effective heat units obtained. 

Rule No. 18, Pressure Gauges Required. This rule tends to maintain uni¬ 
formity of pressure and for the same reasons as given for Rule No. 17 tends to 
conserve the gas. , 

Rule No. 25, Waste. This was a general rule passed solely in the interest 
of conservation. 









20 


West Virginia University 


STATISTICS OF PRESENT PRODUCTION. 

The very latest figures on the production, consumption and transportation 
of natural gas into and out of the State of West Virginia are contained in a re¬ 
port to the Chairman of the Commission dated April 24, 1918, giving figures for 
the year ending December 31, 1917, a copy of which report is attached hereto. 


This report shows the production of natural gas by pub¬ 
lic utilities to be-251,935,229,000 cu. ft. 

and by private producers to be_ 38,746,414,000 “ 

Total (not including certain carbon black companies) 290,681,643,000 “ 

Of this amount 17 public utilities produce_245,893,551,000 “ “ 

or 97.6% of all gas produced by utilities. 

These same 17 utilities purchase from private producers_ 38,089,970,000 “ “ 

or 98.3% of all the gas produced by private producers. 

Total produced and purchased from private produc¬ 
ers by these 17 public utilities_283,983,521,000 “ “ 

or 97.7% of the total produced (not including cer¬ 
tain carbon companies.) 

Six public utilities produce__211,154,130,000 “ “ 

or 83.8% of all the gas produced y utilities. 

These same six utilities purchase from private producers 25,539,282,000 “ “ 


or 64.9% of all the gas produced by private producers. 

Total produced and purchased from private produc¬ 
ers by these 6 public utilities-236,693,412,000 “ “ 

or 81.4% of the total produced (not including cer¬ 
tain carbon black companies). 

The above figures prove that the principal part of the gas business in this 
State is controlled by a very few companies. 

The Commission’s Gas Rule No. 5 requiring metering of free consumers, and 
gas used for drilling and repairing of wells except in isolated places, has 
brought a great saving of the natural gas as used from the field and main lines. 

The metering of drilling wells has led to the use of low pressure gas burners 
—which change has effected an economy of practically fifty percent where used. 

The metering of free consumers, who use ordinarily 4 to 30 times as much 
gas as other domestic consumers in similiar conditions, and who must pay now 
for all gas used over a liberal allowance, has effected a great economy. 

With the increased unit prices, the gas utilities are trying now more than 
ever before, to eliminate all wasteful practices of the use of gas in the 
field. The Commission has gladly cooperated wherever possible in this work 
and in some cases has even ordered the utilities to adopt conservation measures 
as a matter of justice to the public. 

The saving of gas used in the field and from the main lines is a very im¬ 
portant matter. It is believed that economies can be more easily effected here 
than elsewhere and that it offers a rich field for practical conservation. For 
the year ending December 31, 1917, there was consumed in cities and towns for 
domestic and industrial purposes 52,258,468,000 cu. ft. and from field and main 
lines, for drilling, free consumers, compressor stations, etc., 22,924,291,000 cu. ft. 
or 44% of that used for cities and towns. 








The Conservation of Natural Gas 


Ol 

/V J. 


REPORT ON PRODUCTION OF NATURAL GAS AND TRANSPORTATION 
INTO AND OUT OF THE STATE FOR THE YEAR 1917. 

April Twenty-fourth, 1918. 

Hon. E. G. Rider, Chairman, The Public Service Commission of West Vir¬ 
ginia, Charleston. 

Dear Sir: 

I submit herewith statement showing natural gas production and trans¬ 
portation into and out of the State of West Virginia for the year ending 
December 31, 1917, compiled from the reports sent in each month by the 
different utilities as required in your Commission’s Gas Rule No. 21. 

Produced by gas utilities-251,935,229,000 cu. ft. 

Produced by producers_ 38,746,414,000 “ 

Produced by carbon black companies not in¬ 
cluded above (estimated)_ 14,583,283,000 “ 

Total Produced (a)-305,264,926,000 “ 

Consumed domestic and industrial_ 52,258,468,000 “ 

Consumed field and main lines_ 22,062,706,000 “ 

Consumed for carbon black (estimated)_ 26,062,706,000 “ 

Total consumed-101,245,465,000 “ 

Transported out of State_208,280,274,000 “ 

Transported into State_ 4,024,818,000 “ 

Net transported out of State_204,255,456,000 “ 

(a) It is estimated that 26,062,706,000 cu. ft. was used for the manu¬ 
facture of carbon black. 

Commenting on the above figures, it is to be noted that the volume of 
natural gas produced commercially in West Virginia in 1917 establishes a 
new record of gas production, a gain of 2% over the output for the year 
1916, as shown by the records of the United States Geological Survey. 

There is a discrepancy of 235,995,000 cu. ft. between the amount shown 
as exported out of the State and the difference between production and 
consumption within the State. The amount reported as purchased by 
utilities from other utilities differs from the amount reported as sold by 
utilities to other utilities by this same figure, which represents only about 
Vs of one percent of the amount shown as exported and about 1-12 of one 
percent of the amount shown as produced. This discrepancy should most 
probably be deducted from the amount shown as consumed in field and 
main lines. 

Respectfully submitted, 

GEO. E. TAYLOR, Assistant Engineer. 

NATURAL GAS FOR INDUSTRIAL USE. 

The United States Geological Survey in its report for the year 1916, gives 
the following figures for the consumption in West Virginia: 

Unit price 


Use. 

Amount (cu. ft.) 

Value in Dollars 

in Cents 

Industrial—Mfg. 

61.599,981,000 

$3,491,136.00 

5.667 

Industrial—Power 

24,726,156,000 

1,729,548.00 

6.995 

Total Industrial 

86,324,137,000 

$5,220,684.00 

6.048 

Domestic _ 

_ 18,779,871.000 

3,389,400.00 

18.048 

Total Consumption 1 . 

93.704,221,000 

$8,610,084.00 

9.189 

Carbon black - 

23,468,892,000 

$ 568,742.00 

2.42 

Total Industrial less 

Carbon 



black- 

62,855,245,000 

$4,651,942.00 

7.401 


Uncluding gas consumed in the State of Maryland. 























22 


West Virginia University 


From the reports to the Board of Public Works, all of which are not in at 
this time, the following compilations have been made by the writer which it is 
believed will show fairly reliable unit costs for the year 1917. No reports for 
carbon black consumption are included in these figures. 


Unit price 

Use. Amount (cu. ft.) Value in Dollars in Cents 

Industrial_40,801,496,000 $3,593,437.08 8.807 

Domestic_14,284,227,000 2,654,162.00 18.581 

Total_55,085,723,000 $6,247,599.08 11.342 


It is to be noted that the above unit prices are based on quantities amount¬ 
ing to over 73% of the State’s consumption, exclusive of carbon black. 

These figures show an increase in unit prices for 1917 over 1916 of: 19% for 
industrial use (exclusive of carbon black), and 3% for domestic use. 

These figures show that if present conditions continue and the unit prices 
lor industrial use advance in similar ratio there must of necessity be a gradual 
dropping off of the quantity used for this purpose. 

The industrial users expect to use natural gas as long as same is cheaper 
than a substitute. A great deal of interest is now being taken by them in this 
subject, especially in the northern part of the State where the supply for 
industrial use is inadequate. 

Another indication of expected future shortages of gas is the fact that in 
the last year or two manufacturers have put on the market for gas consumers 
furnaces, cooking ranges, etc., adapted for use of either gas or coal with the 
view that coal could be easily substituted for gas and used efficiently at times 
of gas shortage. 

The number of industrial users of natural gas in this State is less than 
1.6% of the number of domestic users. 

GAS SHORTAGES. 

Causes. It is proper first to consider the minimum and maximum demands 
of domestic and industrial consumers. The maximum demand of the average 
domestic consumer occurring during times of extreme cold weather will prob¬ 
ably be from 10 to 15 times the minimum demand and at least 5 times the 
average demand. The average yearly increases in domestic business is 10%. 

In the industrial business there is ordinarily but little difference between 
the minimum and maximum demand. Because of large increase in plant of 
industrial consumers due to the world war, during the winter of 1914-5, the 
industrial demand showed an increase of nearly 50%. 

Domestic consumption being about 19% of the total consumption in West 
Virginia, 29% in Pennsylvania, and 52% in Ohio, it is really seen that an in¬ 
creased demand 5 times the average demand on the part of the domestic con¬ 
sumers would practically require the entire amount of gas consumed by both 
domestic and industrial consumers in West Virginia, 1V 2 times the total aver¬ 
age consumption in Pennsylvania, and 2V 2 times that of Ohio. This shows that 
a partial lack of supply is inevitable for domestic use during cold waves in 
Pennsylvania and a very serious shortage or no supply to domestic consumers 
in parts of Ohio, even though the industrial consumers were reduced to an 
irreducible minimum or entirely shut off. 


s 





The Conservation of Natural Gas 


23 


Prospect for future shortages. With the increasing domestic demand and 
the decreasing productive capacity of the known gas fields, it is certain that 
the gas shortages in the future will become more frequent and more acute 
during cold weather. The only relief to be expected lies in the education of 
the domestic consumer to practice individual economy by heating only such 
portions of his home as are absolutely necessary. A saving of one-third to one- 
half in domestic consumption can readily be achieved in this way. 

These gas shortages being inevitable, provisions for use of substitute fuel 
in cases of emergency have been made by installing combination coal, wood and 
gas stoves and furnaces, and the purchase of oil and gasoline stoves for emer¬ 
gency use. 

Numerous complaints to the Commission regarding gas shortages and 
alleged discrimination were investigated by the Engineering and Inspection De¬ 
partments. Local relief was afforded in some instances by co-operation be¬ 
tween large utilities and permanent relief was accomplished through intercon¬ 
nection with other utilities, enlargement and reinforcement of the transporta¬ 
tion and distribution systems. 

t 

REFINEMENTS IN THE NATURAL GAS BUSINESS. 

During the past few years, there have been developed several new and im¬ 
portant features in the natural gas business which will be discussed under the 
following headings: 

Autogenous Welding 
Mud-laden Fluid in Drilling 
Prevention of Waste and Leaks 
Extraction of Gasoline, and 
Extraction of Carbon Black. 

Autogenous Welding. The process of oxy-acetylene welding and cutting 
offers unique advantages in the production, transportation and distribution of 
natural gas. Its many advantages as well as the cost of the work compared 
with the threaded connections are well set forth in the catalogs of the makers 
of the welding outfits and the many articles on this subject appearing in the 
natural gas journals. Besides other advantages, a welded main permanently 
eliminates joint leakage and subsequent maintenance cost. 

This method has been used on many different kinds of gas lines and mains 
with such success that at the present time it is generally used for river cross¬ 
ings and other difficult work. Most of the large utilities use this method to 
make special connections of different kinds, thus eliminating the heavy cast iron 
specials as well as the delay and inconvenience in getting them. 

Mud-laden Fluid in Drilling. The mixing of mud has become an art in 
Oklahoma. The method of drilling of wells using the mud-laden fluid is very 
fully explained in the different bulletins issued by the Bureau of Mines. The 
results obtained by this method of drilling is well given in a resolution adopted 
by the Natural Gas Association of America, following an address delivered by 
Mr. Van H. Manning of the Bureau of Mines on “The Conservation of Natural 
Gas,*' at the Eleventh Annual Convention of this Association held in Pittsburgh, 


24 


West Virginia University 


offered by Mr. J. C. McDowell which resolution together with some of the re¬ 
marks w T ere as follows: 

“A word as to what has already been accomplished: 

“By the use of either the mudding-in process or (by) the circulatory 
method of drilling, there is shut in today by this method—the result of 
the work done by the Bureau of Mines, and the different gas companies, in 
conjunction with the Utilities Commission of Oklahoma, over one billion 
cubic feet of gas that otherwise would have been wasted to the air—one bil¬ 
lion—open flow—cubic feet of natural gas that would have been otherwise 
completely wasted. 

“Therefore, in view of the grand work done, and with a view of having 
this Association express its due appreciation of the good work done by the 
Bureau of Mines, and by the State Commission of the State of Oklahoma, I 
now desire to offer the following resolution: 

“RESOLVED, That the Natural Gas Association of America take this 
means of expressing and placing upon record its recognition and apprecia¬ 
tion of the valuable work done by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission 
and the United States Bureau of Mines and their inspectors in promulgating 
and enforcing regulations restricting the waste of natural gas in the Okla 
homa fields, and especially to acknowledge the effective spirit of conserva¬ 
tion expressed in the great results already obtained, and of appreciation 
of the value of this accomplishment as setting forth before all other States 
that the natural gas resources of our country can be effectively conserved 
under thorough regulations and inspection. 

“The Natural Gas Association hereby expresses its appreciation of the 
work accomplished and extends its hearty congratulation and best wishes 
for still greater accomplishment to the Bureau of Mines and its officers and 
men who contributed to these results and to Commissioners Humphrey and 
Henshaw of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and to their inspectors, 
whose joint efforts have been great and untiring in enforcing conservation.” 

On motion duly made and seconded, the above resolution was then 
unanimously adopted. 

A letter to the writer from Mr. Van H. Manning, Director of the Bureau of 
Mines, dated as of March 29, 1918, comments as follows: “The mud-laden fluid 
method of drilling is undoubtedly applicable to certain parts of your State, and 
when properly handled will seal off and thus protect many of the strata.” 

Prevention of Waste and Leaks. Many of the gas utilities have come to 
realize that it is good business to stop as far as possible all waste and leaks 
in transportation and distribution lines. Several of the utility companies have 
spent large sums of money in stopping joint leaks by use of collar clamps at 
every joint. 

In one city in West Virginia when a careful leakage survey was made of the 
distribution system and all leaks discovered were repaired, a leakage amounting 
to about one-fifth of the gas sold was reduced to one-fifteenth. 

Although not apparent in most cases, there is little doubt that large quanti¬ 
ties of gas in West Virginia are lost through leakage in gas lines, these losses 
being estimated by experts to vary from 5% to 30%. 

Extraction of Gasoline from Natural Gas. Although it has been known 
from the early period of the oil industry that under some conditions light grav¬ 
ity condensates were recoverable from natural gas, it is only within the last few 
years, since gasoline became of great commercial consequence, that this branch 
of the petroleum and natural gas industry began to be developed. 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 


OK 

v O 


and “drv” mdus * ly natural gas is classified in two divisions, “wet” gas 

and dry gas. Gas produced from the same sand as oil is known as “wet” 

“dry” ^gas 6 Tel ZeT^ *T that Pr0duce *“ °”> y . - termed 

and “drv” m @ ' S n °„ C ear llne of demarcation between so-called “wet” 

“ d J l t ^ 3 W ' * S firSt drilled ' the quantity ° £ S a ^ escaping with 

... requently great, the gas flow in time diminishing. When gas comes 

auentl^ 6 ”' ov ™ g 0l1 the two can be separated by a gas trap, and plants are fre- 

cea Ji 7 ^ , 6XtraCt gasoIlne from this “wet” gas. Oil wells that have 

ed flowing and are pumping, usually continue to produce much gas at the 

casing head. It is this casing head gas from which the bulk of natural gas 
condensate is now being recovered. 

Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons of the paraffine series, usually 

containing also very small portions of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water 

vapors. A sample of “wet” gas recently analyzed showed the following com¬ 
position: 


Methane on 

Ethane 


Propane on i r-* 

Butanes, Pentanes, Hexanes, etc 

_ _ 10.5% 

Total Inc. 1.03 Nitrogen 



The dry gases are usually very high in methane, containing sometimes 
as much as 95 percent. Methane cannot be liquefied by ordinary commercial 
methods, consequently the gasoline content of natural gas is recovered from the 
lower hydrocarbons, ethane, propane, butane, etc. 

There are two general methods of recovering condensates from natural gas. 
Briefly, they may be described as follows: 

(a) Compressing the gas by means of an air compressor adapted to the 
purpose. Cooling the compressed gas by means of condensing coils, by use of 
water, air or artificial refrigeration. 

(b) The Absorption Method—Passing the gas through towers, or receptacle 
in contact with heavy oils, (used as a menstrum). Then heating the oil in ordi¬ 
nary stills to a point where the light vapors absorbed by the menstrum pass 
off as vapors, which vapors are reduced to condensates by the usual methods of 
condensation. 

The first method used only with “wet” gas has many variations, embodying 
the ideas of many inventive men. Although patents are extant claiming to 
cover the basic principle, no attempt has been made to enforce them. There 
are, however, many patents on special devices of more or less merit. 

At first ordinary gas pumps at pressures of 50 pounds were used; at present 
compressors—usually two stage—of modern design are installed and the gas 
is compressed to from 100 to 250 pounds per square inch, depending upon the 
quality of the gas and the resultant gravity of the condensate. 

Speaking generally, the higher the gas is compressed, the higher the result¬ 
ant condensate. At above 80 degrees Baume the evaporation of the product 
at atmosphere is very rapid. The quantity of gas consumed or utilized in the 
recovery of the gasoline is but a small percentage of the total volume com- 








26 


West Virginia University 


pressed. The waste gas, or gas from which the gasoline has been recovered, 
can be used for fuel and internal combustion engines. The recovery of gasoline 
from casing head gas is from two to eight gallons per thousand cubic feet 
of gas, depending upon the quality of the gas. 

The absorption process is of more recent adoption than the compression 
process, and is installed, usually, to recover condensates from “dry” gas trans¬ 
ported through pipe lines to more or less distant markets. The operation of 
the plant is essentially this: 

The plant is erected close to the pipeline, preferably at a gas pipeline com¬ 
pressor station. By suitable connections the gas is diverted through the ab¬ 
sorbers—the flow of gas through the pipeline is undisturbed—passing in at the 
bottom, up through the oil and out at the top, and thence on to the market. 
In passing through the absorber, the gas mingles with the oil coming in from 
the top, broken and spread by baffles and other devices. The oil de¬ 
scending absorbs gasoline from the gas, and is pumped from the bottom 
into a still where the gasoline is distilled out of the oil by live steam. 
The oil, stripped of the gasoline, is then pumped into the absorber to ab¬ 
sorb more gasoline, the operation being a continuous circuit of the heavy 
oil. A weathering tank is in the circuit to get rid of some of the lighter con¬ 
densates before the oil enters the still. There is also a heat exchanger for 
cooling the oil before it returns to the absorber. Recently, some absorption 
plants have also been equipped with a compressor plant, which takes the light 
gases from the weathering tank and the tail pipe of the condensers, reduces 
them to liquid, and mingles them with the gasoline recovered through the ab¬ 
sorber. 

The heating value of the gas after passing through the absorber is not 
appreciably lowered, and the deleterious effect of gasoline on the rubber in the 
couplings on the gas pipeline is eliminated. 

The absorption process is patented by at least two inventors, and several 
operators have installed plants and are using the process in defiance of the 
patentee. 

The recovery of gasoline from “dry” gas by the absorption method is com¬ 
paratively small and depends somewhat on the quality of the gas, but is usually 
about one pint for each one thousand cubic feet. Absorption plants are usually 
installed where large volumes of gas can be treated—in some cases from forty 
to fifty million cubic feet for each twenty-four hours. 

The term “condensate” is a more suitable name for the liquid obtained 
from natural gas by either process, for some of the liquid obtained is so volatile 
that it does not come within the meaning of the trade name gasoline. At present 
practically all natural gas condensate is mixed with low grade naphtha—a re¬ 
finery product—before it is marketed. This process is called “blending.” 

It is customary to test the gas proposed to be used to determine its gasoline 
contents before installing a plant, and a close determination of the true result 
can be arrived at by such tests. 

The average compression plant is small, in some instances a plant handling 
100,000 cubic feet in twenty-four hours proving profitable. A plant passing 
2,000,000 cubic feet is considered a large one. The installation of a plant in¬ 
volves connecting up all the wells from which gas is to be used by a pipeline 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 


O ^ 

i ( 


system to convey the casing head gas to the compression plant, as well as suit¬ 
able tankage and shipping facilities. Several hundred oil wells are sometimes 
connected in one pipeline system. 

An idea of the rapid growth and magnitude of this industry can be had 
from a statement prepared by the United States Geological Survey, as follows: 

By increasing its output of gasoline obtained from natural gas from 
10,853,608 gallons in 1915 to 18,765,056 gallons in 1916, a gain of 73 percent, 
West Virginia advanced from third to second rank among the states in 
which this industry has been developed, exceeding its closets competitor, 
California, by a margin of approximately 1,600,000 gallons. 

Of the total quantity of natural-gas gasoline marketed from sources in 
West Virginia in 1916, approximately 9,289,624 gallons, or 49 percent of the 
entire output, was supplied by 133 plants utilizing either compression and 
condensation or vacuum pump methods, the remainder comprising the out¬ 
put of 14 absorption plants and the drips recovered from gas mains in the 
State. The volume of natural gas treated in the production of gasoline in 
West Virginia in 1916 is estimated at 104,664,536,000 cubic feet, or about 
35 percent of the total volume produced in the State in that year. Of this 
volume it is estimated that 3,550,523,000 cubic feet, or 3 per cent, furnished 
an average of 2.6 gallons of gasoline to the thousand cubic feet, and that 
the remaining 97 per cent of the gas treated furnished an average of 0.09 
gallon of gasoline to the thousand cubic feet. 

The average price received at the plants for gasoline marketed in West 
Virginia in 1916 was 16.12 cents a gallon and the market value of the entire 
output was $3,025,293, a gain of 7.58 cents in average sale price per gallon 
and of $2,098,214, or 226 per cent, in gross market value, compared with 
1915. 

The total number of gasoline plants in operation in West Virginia at 
the end of 1916 was 147, and their combined daily capacity was 98,659 gal¬ 
lons, a net gain of 33, or 28 per cent, in the number of plants and of 64,237 
gallons, or 187 per cent, in the daily capacity of gasoline plants in the 
State, compared with conditions at the end of 1915. 

While every gas well is a potential producer of gasoline, there are many 
reasons why they will not be utilized for the manufacture of gasoline. Among 
these reasons are: (1), Insufficient yield of gas; (2), Unfavorable location; 
6,3), Poor quality of gas. 

Yet there are many millions of feet of casing head gas now going to waste 
that will be utilized. The time is near when a gasoline plant will be as much 
a part of a well equipped oil lease, as the power plant for pumping the wells now 
is. The business is profitable, under proper conditions, and conservation is 
always popular when it is profitable. 

Extraction of Carbon Black. It is known that a method of extracting carbon 
black from natural gas is being carefully studied by a large manufacturing con¬ 
cern. This concern expresses great confidence in the successful outcome of the 
new method by which the gas after being treated for carbon black can then be 
distributed to domestic and industrial consumers for heat, light and power. 


28 


West Virginia University 


THE USE OF SUBSTITUTES FOR NATURAL GAS BY INDUSTRIAL 

CONSUMERS. 

Owing to the increasing demands on the natural gas supply, it has been 
necessary, during extreme cold weather at first, and now at almost any cold 
spell, to reduce the supply to the industrial users and in several cases to reduce 
the supply to a minimum. One large gas company in the northern part of the 
State has been allowed by the Commission, because of diminishing production, 
to discontinue furnishing gas for industrial uses. The increasing frequency of 
these gas shortages and the resulting loss to the industries and the workmen 
employed, have caused much concern among the different industrial users and 
study by experts in the natural gas business to find a satisfactory substitute and 
thus relieve the present situation which is becoming worse each year. 

It is known that plans are being considered for substituting or adding arti¬ 
ficial gas to the present natural gas supply at times of gas shortages. 

Much interest has been taken in the effort to substitute powdered coal for 
all industrial uses except for the manufacture of glass. Addresses have been 
given in the principal cities of the northern part of the State setting forth the 
advantages of this fuel. Very full description of these meetings and briefs of 
the addresses delivered are contained in issues of daily papers as follows: 

The Clarksburg Exponent, February 28, 1918. 

The Clarksburg Daily Telegram, February 27, 1918. 

The Parkersburg News, March 1, 1918. 

The Wheeling Daily News, March 1, 1918. 

Wheeling Register, March 2, 1918. 

Several manufacturers in this and surrounding states have been already 
equipped or are preparing to equip their plant with private artificial gas pro¬ 
ducers to avoid shut-downs in time of cold weather. 

It is believed that the next ten years will bring about a gradual substitution 
of some other fuel for a large part of the natural gas now used for industrial pur¬ 
poses. 


INCREASE IN RATES FOR NATURAL GAS IN WEST VIRGINIA. 

There has very properly been a gradual increase in all gas rates in 
this State. Much of the gas which has been sold at an absurdly low figure 
should better have been conserved in the different gas sands undeveloped 
and reserved for future use. During the past two years, owing to a 
shortage of gas and the increased costs of production and distribution, there 
have been many applications made to the Commission for authority to increase 
rates. Upon proper showing, the Commission has allowed the increases where 
justified, either in whole or in part. The Commission has felt in most cases, 
that the increased costs should be placed on the industrial users who usually 
have not paid their proportionate share of the costs of service. This is reflected 
in the figures showing the increased unit costs for the year 1917 over 1916, as 
fully set out in the Chapter on “Gas for Industrial Use.” 


29 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 

UNUSUAL CONDITIONS CAUSED BY THE WAR. 

The last four years have been rather exceptional in the history of the 
natural gas industry. Even before the entry of the United States into the 
great European conflict, the factories of the United States were busy filling 
large orders for war materials. Since the United States has come to take an 
active part and has thrown all her energy and resources on the side of the 
Allies, the situation here has become even more intense. The great factories 
of this country have worked night and day to supply us with the necessary ma¬ 
terials and munitions of war. In this preparation natural gas has played an 
important part. Gas was used in larger quantities than ever before for heat 
and power. And it was very fortunate that the industry was so well able to 
supply this demand, and to do it done without any extra burden for coal trans¬ 
portation to our already over-loaded facilities. The demand for gas during the 
past winter was increased because of the high prices and severe shortages of 
coal. 

It is estimated that natural gas used for industrial purposes in 1916 was 
26% greater in volume than that used in 1915. This abnormal use was neces¬ 
sary principally for filling war contracts. It is not known what amounts were 
used in West Virginia for this purpose but it is not believed that the quantities 
were large. Much of the natural gas used for these purposes was supplied from 
the rich fields of West Virginia. 

The following table gives quantities of natural gas used in West Virginia for 
the years 1914, 1915 and 1916 for manufacturing and power, and the price in 
cents per thousand cubic feet. 


1914 1915 1916 

Use M. cu. ft Cents. M. cu. ft. Cents. M. cu. ft. Cents 

Manufacturing -56,378,902—5.3 56,277,012—5.24 61,597,891—5.67 

Power _21,774,644—5.4 20,806,588—5.86 24,726,156—6.99 

Total_78,123,546—5.33 77,083,600—5.85 86,324,137—6.05 


Statistics are not at hand for the year 1917. 

The United States Government, through the Council of National Defense, 
has in effect a “National Natural Gas Administrator” whose duty it is to pro¬ 
cure for the munition factories a preferential service by gas companies over 
other industries. To this end, Mr. David O. Holbrook has been appointed to 
assist the Priority Committee of the War Industries Board in the distribution of 
natural gas for industrial purposes. His official capacity is that of Secretary 
of the Natural Gas Committee of the Council of National Defense. It has been 
the pleasure of the writer to furnish Mr. Holbrook with the latest reports of 
production, consumption and exportation of natural gas from West Virginia. 

Mr. Holbrook, at a luncheon meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of 
Pittsburgh, publicly stated that “after the residences have been cared for, those 
industries which are manufacturing munitions for the Government will be 
supplied, but the cheaters will be carefully watched.” He also stated that “the 
manufacturer who sells 2% of his product to the Government and 98% to pri¬ 
vate customers and then applies for gas as a maker of munitions, is doomed to 
disappointment.” 





30 


West Virginia University 


In reply to a letter of inquiry from the writer Mr. Holbrook writes as fol¬ 
lows: “I wish to assure you that it will give me greatest pleasure to advise 
you as soon as any definite plans of action have been taken in regard to the 
ultimate conservation of the Natural Gas Supply.” 

AGENCIES INTERESTED IN THE CONSERVATION OF THE NATURAL GAS 

SUPPLY. 

All persons, associations of persons, firms, corporations or agencies en¬ 
gaged in the business of producing, transporting, distributing or using natural 
gas, either directly or indirectly, should be interested in its conservation. Some 
of the principal agencies actively interested in this work are as follows: 

Bureau of Mines. The activities of this National Department are well set 
out in the Annual Reports of the Secretary of the Interior and the many Bulle¬ 
tins issued by the Bureau. 

National Bureau of Standards. In reply to a letter by the writer to this 
Department, the following is self-explanatory: 

“There are none of the parts of the proposed National Gas Safety Code 
which have been completed for distribution. This work has been entirely 
suspended for over a year because of the urgency of other investigations 
which require the full time of the Gas-Engineering Section of the Bureau. 

“The Bureau has under consideration an investigation of means for 
best utilizing the natural gas available for public utility service throughout 
the territory, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. 
If this investigation is carried forward, as it is hoped will be possible, we 
shall desire the co-operation of your commission. As soon as it can be 
determined to what extent this work will go forward we shall advise you 
further.” 

United States Geological Survey. The activities of this National Depart¬ 
ment are well set out in the Annual Reports of the Secretary of the Interior 
and the Reports of this Department. 

National Gas Association of America. This Association has for several 
years had a “Committee on Conservation” composed of very able men. Yearly 
reports of this Committee are to be found in the proceedings of this Associa¬ 
tion. 


Council of National Defense. In reply to a letter from the writer the fol¬ 
lowing is self-explanatory: 

“Your letter under date of February 14th, to the National Council of 
Defense, has been referred to me for attention. 

“I wish to assure you that it will give me great pleasure to advise you 
as soon as any definite plans of action have been taken in regard to the 
ultimate conservation of the Natural Gas supply.” 

West Virginia Natural Gas Association. This Association for the past two 
years has held conventions, at which (time) papers were presented and exhibits 
made of natural gas appliances. These conventions are attended by officials 
and workmen of the gas utilities and it is believed to do much toward improv¬ 
ing the present practice—which aids conservation. 


The Conservation of Natural Gas 


31 


Gas Utilities and Manufacturers of Gas Appliances. Realizing that it was 
necessary to act now to avoid future shortages of gas, many gas companies 
and manufacturers of gas appliances have spent much thought and money 
studying conservation methods and experimenting to improve present methods 
of production, distribution and use. 

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia. The writer feels that the 
Commission is deeply interested in this question and that it has gone as far as 
authorized by law in preventing needless waste. 

OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE. 

As explained in the preceding discussion, the conservation of the natural 
gas supply is an important matter in the future industrial growth and develop¬ 
ment of West Virginia. It is a question which should be given careful consid¬ 
eration and immediate action should be taken to extend the useful life of this 
valuable fuel for the best use of the public. Everything considered, this State 
has now and will continue to have for many years a certain inherent economic 
advantage due to its location over the other states using gas from the Appala¬ 
chian field. The outcome of the cases now pending before the Commission re¬ 
garding the right to require preferential service to West Virginia consumers 
before exporting gas to other States and the right to exercise jurisdiction over 
industrial users will have an important bearing on this question. 

Disregarding the outcome of these cases now pending before the Commis¬ 
sion, there are several ways—some of which have been brought to the attention 
of the public by leading men of the gas industry interested in conservation— 
both direct and indirect in which the useful life of the natural gas supply in 
this State can be extended. 

Some of the indirect methods which can be used are the following: 

The education of the public, in the districts served with natural gas, through 
the agency of the common schools, in the most approved methods of using 
natural gas with maximum efficiency. These methods are capable of conserving 
practically 50 per cent of the quantity now consumed for domestic purposes. 

The increase in unit price for service will automatically lead to more care¬ 
ful and efficient use on the part of the consumers, and in greater attention to 
the prevention of waste and leaks of all kinds on the part of the public utilities. 

The gradual addition of artificial gas mixed with the natural gas to supple¬ 
ment and take care of the increasing demands and decreasing productive capac¬ 
ity of the fields, will give satisfactory relief to the present situation for many 
years, but at an increasing cost to the public. 

Some of the direct methods are as follows: 

The use of improved methods in production, transportation and distribu¬ 
tion on the part of the gas utilities either by use of recent improvements in the 
ar t—some of which were discussed in a preceding chapter—or by the greater 
economy and efficiency resulting from concentration of ownership in large 
producing companies. It is estimated that there is a possible saving along this 
line of ten to forty percent of the total production. 

The increase in unit price of gasoline or natural gas will lead to the har¬ 
nessing of many scattered wells producing casing head gas and gas wells of low 


32 


West Virginia University 


rock pressure into compressing stations for the recovery of gasoline. This gas, 
after the gasoline has been extracted, can be pumped into transportation lines 
and thus effect a considerable saving of gas which at the present time is serv¬ 
ing no useful purpose. 

The successful outcome of the method of extracting carbon black from 
natural gas as a by-product and then using the treated gas for distribution to 
domestic and industrial consumers will effect a conservation of this fuel amount¬ 
ing to about thirty-five percent of the quantity now used for all other pur¬ 
poses within the State. 

The discontinuance of gas for industrial purposes which is now being con¬ 
sidered by many utilities would result in such a conservation of the supply that 
it would be sufficient for domestic use for many years to come. 

Protective legislation or a broadening of the powers of the Commission 
with provision for effective and judicial enforcement through the agency of 
men having a broad general knowledge of the natural gas business, especially 
in conservation methods, would undoubtedly result in a great saving of this 
valuable natural resource. This could be accomplished through the creation of 
another state department known as the department of natural gas, or by an 
increased appropriation for the Public Service Commission to pay salaries and 
expenses of conservation agents. 

It is known that the utilities are now and have been for the past few years 
deeply interested in any practicable method—either to increase the production or 
to conserve the present supply. To accomplish this result, they have employed 
experts to make a special study of this question and certain of the utilities have 
spent large sums of money in deep well drilling in the hope of finding a larger 
or original source of gas, or oil pent up under tremendous pressure and ready 
to escape in enormous volume. The development of a new reserve of this kind 
would open a new era in the oil and gas business which would be welcomed 
by everyone interested in the production or consumption of oil or gas, or any 
of their by-products. It is interesting to note that a well now being drilled for 
this purpose by the Hope Natural Gas Company, which at this time is already 
the deepest well in the world—on March 4, 1918, being 7.363 feet—is located 
on the Goff Farm, eight miles northeast of Clarksburg, in northern West Vir¬ 
ginia. 




